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Community

General news which affects the Molokai community in one way or another.

Local Hui to Organize Flights for Medical Appointments 

Thursday, May 8th, 2025

By Jack Kiyonaga, Editor 

After years of airport anxiety, Molokai residents on their way to doctors appointments should be able to breathe a little easier. A locally run healthcare hui, Pulama Ka Heke, recently received a Department of Health award specifically to transport residents and providers for medical care. 

 

“We want to close healthcare gaps,” explained Lani Ozaki, executive director of Pulama Ka Heke. To this end, Pulama Ka Heke will be chartering flights for those with medical appointments off-island, as well as offering flights to Molokai for medical specialists. 

 

The nearly $2 million award will cover two years of the Essential Rural Medical Air Transport (ERMAT) Pilot Program for both Molokai and Lanai.…

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MHS Sports Update

Thursday, May 8th, 2025

MHS Sports Update

By The Molokai Dispatch Staff

This past weekend, the Molokai High School (MHS) Farmers took on competition from around the state in several high stakes matches. After coming in second in the Maui Interscholastic League (MIL) Division II tournament the previous week, the MHS softball team was back in action in a decisive play-in game for the state tournament. The Lady Farmers traveled to Maui to take on Waimea High School from Kauai. Natalia Pastrana took to the mound, however, the Lady Farmers couldn’t keep up with Waimea’s offense. A big second inning from Waimea put them up 11-1, and Waimea’s offense continued to fire.…

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70s Decade Bash, It’s a Party!

Thursday, May 1st, 2025

70s Decade Bash Committee News Release

 

There will be a 70s Decade Bash taking place at the Mitchell Pauole Center on Saturday, August 16, 2025, from 5 to 10 p.m. All students who not only graduated from Molokai High School in the 70s, but also for those who grew up here on Molokai but went away for high school and graduated in the 70’s are included. This would be for the graduating classes of 1970, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1974, 1975, 1976, 1977, 1978 and 1979.
There will be a catered dinner followed by a night of 70s music and dancing!…

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ʻOlena, Lemonade and Learning: Maunaloa’s Taste of Nourishment

Thursday, May 1st, 2025

Community Contributed
Kristina Cacpal, Farm to School UH CTAHR

The scent of fresh herbs and citrus filled the air as fifth and sixth grade haumana from Kumu Wendy Espaniola’s class proudly presented their value-added products at the third quarter Mala Hoʻike. With a theme of nourishment, the event highlighted student creativity, cultural connection, and hands-on learning through a special partnership with Farm to School.
The young learners began their school year with a clear goal: to grow, study, and transform herbs from their mala (garden) into value-added products to share with their school and wider community. Throughout the year, they diligently cared for a vibrant selection of herbs including ʻolena (turmeric), lemongrass, basil, rosemary, and dill.…

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Kamp Kaohi Accepting Applications

Thursday, May 1st, 2025

MEO News Release

The third Kamp Kaohi, which offers leadership, harmful-behavior prevention and fun activities for middle and high school youth on Molokai, will be held May 2 and 3 at Molokai Baptist Church in Ho`olehua.
The camp is open to 6th to 12th graders and is offered at no cost to attendees. Space is limited.
This is the third running of the camp, which has been organized by Maui Economic Opportunity (MEO) Youth Services Molokai with support from MEO Youth Services staff on Maui.
The overnight camp offers fun activities, like smores and waterslides, while also presenting strength-based approaches to promote mental health and to prevent suicide, violence, bullying and substance abuse.…

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MHS Receives National Grant For Library Services

Thursday, May 1st, 2025

Molokai High School News Release 

Molokai High School (MHS) has been selected as one of 300 libraries to participate in round three of Libraries Transforming Communities: Accessible Small and Rural Communities, an American Library Association (ALA) initiative that provides community engagement and accessibility resources to small and rural libraries to help them better serve people with disabilities.

The competitive award comes with a $10,000 grant that will help the library service students struggling with specific learning disabilities, including autism and health and emotional disabilities, who rarely or seldom access library resources.

“We are so proud to be chosen again for this amazing opportunity,” said Diane Mokuau, MHS librarian.…

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Evening String Concert

Thursday, May 1st, 2025

Evening String Concert

St. Damien Parish News Release

Please join us for a free concert presented by the Galliard String Quartet Monday, May 5 from 5:30-6:30 p.m. at the St. Damien Church located at 115 Ala Malama Ave., Kaunakakai. The concert will include pieces by Mozart, Vivaldi, Beethoven, Gershwin, a lullaby composed by Brandon Jones, a Molokai artist and resident, songs by HRH Lili‘uokalani and more. The program will conclude with a community sing along to “Damien the Blessed,” written by Patrick Downes.
Fueled by passion—and sometimes coffee and tea—the Galliard String Quartet’s romance with the music of Beethoven, Brahms, Schubert, Shostakovich, and many others is unparalleled.…

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Pescaia Receives Lifetime Education Achievement Award

Thursday, May 1st, 2025

Pescaia Receives Lifetime Education Achievement Award

Aka’ula School News Release
Miki’ala Pescaia is the recipient of Aka’ula School’s 2025 Lifetime Education Achievement Award. Below is an interview with Pescaia discussing her education, influences and beliefs. Check out next week’s issue of The Molokai Dispatch for part two of the interview.
Aka`ula School (AS): Tell us about your educational journey.
Miki`ala Pescaia (MP): Mahalo for the honor of being selected as your outstanding educator for 2025. My own educational journey has allowed me to experience many different learning formats, kumu, topics, and settings. I can remember every one of my teachers from Ho’olehua Headstart, Kualapu’u School, and Molokai High and Intermediate School.…

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Molokai Breakdown for 2026 County Budget

Thursday, May 1st, 2025

Molokai Breakdown for 2026 County Budget

By Jack Kiyonaga, Editor

The mayor’s proposed budget for Maui County in fiscal year 2026 clocks in at over $1.512 billion, up from $1.3 billion last year. For Molokai, millions of dollars have been designated for proposed projects.

The Maui County Council gathered with Molokai residents on April 11 to hear testimony and petitions regarding the upcoming fiscal year’s budget. The annual meeting is one of the only times the county council comes in force to Molokai, so many residents took the opportunity to hear overviews of county projects on island and voice their opinions.

“The purpose of having the community hearing is to hear directly from the community what the priorities are,” explained Keani Rawlins-Fernandez, Molokai’s representative to the Maui County Council.…

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DOGE Hits Molokai Cultural Programs

Thursday, May 1st, 2025

By Jack Kiyonaga, Editor

The long arm of the nascent U. S. Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) reached the shores of Molokai in early April. Massive funding cuts to the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) resulted in a cancellation of grants for the Hawaii Council for the Humanities, which has funded many projects on Molokai.

The cuts to the Hawaii Council for the Humanities amounted to over $1.5 million, explained executive director Aiko Yamashiro. The money would have been used for projects in 2026-2027.

“It’s definitely not good,” said Yamashiro. “We have a lot of questions and no clear answers.”…

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